John Carver's keeping the seat warm at Newcastle, but let's be honest: it's a good job if you fancy a challenge.

As the 2014-15 Premier League season enters its final furlong, some of England's biggest clubs are already preparing for next season. Two major full-time managerial vacancies already exist, at Newcastle United and Sunderland; two more are likely to open up at West Ham United and Queens Park Rangers. Iain Macintosh scours the job pages.

Newcastle United (Current manager: John Carver)

PROS: The trophy cabinet begs to differ but don't be fooled. This is still one of the biggest clubs in the country....

West Ham striker Diafra Sakho scored a late winner to inflict defeat on new Sunderland head coach Dick Advocaat in his first match in charge and finally bring some cheer back to Upton Park.

Sam Allardyce may only have a 38.73 winning percentage as manager of West Ham but he offers Premier League stability to a club that suffered relegation just four seasons ago.

Gus Poyet's sacking at Sunderland last week raised again the already fractious debate about Sam Allardyce's tenure at Upton Park. With rumour and counter-rumour adding to the conjecture in the media about the manager's future with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, a step back and a bit of logic need to be applied.

Sunderland's announcement that Dick Advocaat was to temporarily take over the reins at the Stadium of Light at least put an end to the story that Big Sam had been seen...

West Ham striker Diafra Sakho scored a late winner to inflict defeat on new Sunderland head coach Dick Advocaat in his first match in charge and finally bring some cheer back to Upton Park.

This was a game with 0-0 written all over it, a game featuring two teams short on confidence and low on ideas, with critical fan bases who expect more and managers under pressure. The thing is, no one told Diafra Sakho.

When the Senegalese forward rifled home with just two minutes left of the 90, after excellent work by Mark Noble, it was like a weight was lifted from the crowd. Previously quiet, it suddenly sounded as if the European gates had opened, and the Irons were back with a 1-0 win to end...